Easy Summer Makeup Tips and Tricks You Should Know

When the temperatures rise, your wardrobe isn’t the only thing that needs changing. Summer is full of pleasures, but super-sticky lipstick, smeared eyeliner and melting makeup are not among them. When it comes to summer makeup, sunscreen is the only product you should be laying on thick. Here are some of the best summer makeup tips from makeup artists on how to keep your makeup looking fresh and pretty, even when the weather is not working with you.

Summer Makeup Tips #1: Go Almost Naked

Just like you switch to linen blouses and breezy skirts, use lighter makeup on your face. Whether you are going to the beach or just want to embrace the summery vibe, skip foundation altogether and go directly to concealer. Covering up blemishes, spots or shadows with just the concealer will free you from worrying about blotting away your makeup along with the shine. Dab on a slightly tacky stick concealer with your fingers. The denser the formula, the longer it stays.

Summer Makeup Tips #2: Try a Tinted Moisturizer

If you are not comfortable going completely nude, you can swap your foundation for a tinted moisturizer that adds radiance, evens out the skin tone and doesn’t feel heavy in the heat. You can try an illuminating formula if you want a sheer glow, which can feel and look airier on the skin and is less likely to turn cakey on hot days. Feeling a little too exposed? You can brush powder foundation over the tinted moisturizer on areas that need a bit more coverage like on blemishes or red areas around your nose.

Summer Makeup Tips #3: Bronze Believably

Everyone looks better with a little warmth added to their skin. To keep the results looking natural and fresh, apply bronzer only to the high points of your face where the sun naturally hits: over the apples of your cheeks, on your temples and across the bridge of your nose. Covering every inch of your face is what gives you that fake, baked look. It is recommended to use a bronzer with a slight shimmer and pink or peach undertones. Powder bronzer is the easiest to apply. Also, be sure to apply a little bronzer onto your earlobes and neck, especially if you have short hair or are sweeping up your hair into a ponytail.

Summer Makeup Tips #4: Make Time for Primer

You will never regret the few seconds you need to spend on applying a primer, which goes on after the moisturizer but before the actual face makeup. It provides a smooth base for whatever goes on next, doesn’t feel like a heavy, additional layer at all and really helps hold makeup.

Summer Makeup Tips #5: Shine Strategically

To keep minimal summer makeup glowing, add light-catching highlights. Blend a little bit of liquid highlighter on your brow bones, on the top of your cheekbones and down the bridge of your nose. This might take a little practice since you have to make sure you don’t go all the way down to the tip of your nose, which will make it look oily.

Summer Makeup Tips #6: Multitask Your Makeup

The easy-to-blend satin lipstick is just as resilient as cream blush, so you can also use it to tint your cheeks. Satin lipstick is put to the test on your lips where it faces all kinds of situations, from drinking to wiping your mouth, but even through all that, it stays. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it will last on your cheeks all day too.

Summer Makeup Tips #7: Make Your Mascara Last

Waterproof mascaras are the best way to avoid having raccoon eyes. If you tried them once before and it didn’t look too good, it’s time you try again since today’s formulas have become so much better than before. If you don’t want to switch from your favorite, you can just apply a coat of waterproof mascara over your regular mascara to increase its staying power.

However, if you have sensitive eyes and find waterproof mascara irritating, here’s a little trick you can use: Apply clear mascara over your regular mascara on the top lashes to seal the color and use only clear mascara on your bottom lashes.

Summer Makeup Tips #8: Switch out Thick Lipsticks

Since heavy lip colors feel too thick in the warm weather, most women opt for clear balm or skip their lips completely. Just because you are feeling low-maintenance does not mean you have to look it. There is a simpler choice here: tinted lip balms. They offer a healthy hint of color, and many even have SPF to provide protection from the sun.

Summer Makeup Tips #9: Make Your Eye Makeup Last

Want your eyeshadows to last long? Avoid using eye cream on your lids, which can break down makeup. Instead, smooth on a primer which will create a foundation for the shadow to stick to so that it lasts longer. For the ultimate all-day wearability, apply a layer of powder over a cream. Double layers work for liners too. Apply dark shadows using a small angled brush over your regular pencil or cream layer for longer wear.